Mechanism for attaching handle to containers



J. F. FLYNN 3,056,138 MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING HANDLE TO CONTAINERS Oct. 2, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 21, 1958 9 292 IUMZ s 02:33 2%....

53: M W. W ATTYS Oct. 2, 1962 J. F. FLYNN 3,056,138

MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING HANDLE T0 CONTAINERS Original Filed July 21, 1958 11 Sheets-$heet 2 uov US Q

M o .3 NO 2 U 4 u WIRE REEL RATcHEr HANDLE FEED Post-GER RETURN O IN g -svzb 80 OUT 1P INVENTQR JOSEPH F? FLYNN TTYS.

J. F. FLYNN 3,05 MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING HANDLE TO CONTAINERS Oct. 2, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed July 21, 1958 INVENTOR JOSEPH F, FLYNN WW, Vuh QM Oct. 2, 1962 J. F. FLYNN 3,056,133

MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING HANDLE T0 CONTAINERS Original Filed July 21, 1958 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING HANDLE T0 CONTAINERS Original Filed July 21, 1958 J F. FLYNN l1 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 2, 1962 W N Wj m N H T w 0 A N 4 V W; m x! m n E? 8 m F d I H P m w J M m 1) MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING HANDLE TO CONTAINERS Original Filed July 21, 1958 J. F. FLYNN Oct. 2, 1962 ll Sheets-$heet 6 N mh Tm Wm v ...4. w N H W M 4 V 5 n. W w. O W o Oct. 2, 1962 J. F. FLYNN 3,056,138

MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING HANDLE TO CONTAINERS Original Filed July 21, 1958 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 F" .lOw

INVENTOR JQSEPH F. FLYNN ATTYS.

11 Sheets-$heet 8 J. F. FLYNN Oct. 2, 1962 MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING HANDLE TO CONTAINERS Original Filed July 21, 1958 INvEN-Tq R JosEPH F. FLYNN 3,056,138 MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING HANDLE TO CONTAINERS Original Filed July 21, 1958 J. F. FLYNN Oct. 2, 1962 11 Sheets-$heet 9 W m N 2? H b a J by: W, x aud Arrvs J. F. FLYNN 3,056,138 MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING HANDLE TO CONTAINERS Oct. 2, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Original Filed July 21, 1958 I NVENTOR JOSEPH F3 FLYNN. w,

J. F. FLYNN 3,056,138 MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING HANDLE T0 CONTAINERS Oct. 2, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Original Filed July 21, 1958 Iwvau-roe JOSEPH F. FLYNN 714%! Ml 2AM 3,056,133 Patented Get. 2, 1962 3,056,138 MEHANISM FOR ATTACHHQG HANDLE TO CONTAINERS Joseph F. Flynn, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ex-CeIl-O Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Original application July 21, 1953, Ser. No. 750,013, now

Patent No. 2,990,934, dated July 4, 1961. Divided and this application Dec. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 78,712

4 Claims. (Cl. 1-106) The present invention relates to packaging machines for producing filled containers of the gabled top closure variety having enclosed within the gable top closure an extensible pouring spout. More particularly, the invention relates to a mechanism for joining filled and sealed paperboard containers of this type in pairs by attaching a handle to the gable top closure of two such containers alined back-to-back with the spouts facing outwardly.

The familiar gable topped paperboard container, now in widespread commercial use for milk and other dairy products, has an extensible pouring spout enclosed within the gabled top closure. This spout is readily accessible for use by merely folding the roof panels of the top back from one end and at the same time tearing the upstanding rib along its top fold line, and then snapping the spout forward to its extended position. The staple employed in the rib, to hold the container closed, is necessarily oiT-set from the center of the gable top rib so as not to interfere with the spout. Previous forms of gable top style paperboard containers did not embody the extensible pouring spout but rather used a plug opening in one roof panel for dispensing the contents, and accordingly the staple was applied at the center of the top rib.

When the older type containers were paired and joined together by a handle, it was a simple matter to staple the handle directly to the upstanding rib of two adjacent containers as they emerged from the filling machine. With the advent of the extensible pouring spout type container, however, this method of attaching the handle was found to be impractical, primarily because the containers emerged from the filling machine with their spouts alined in one direction and consequently in attaching a handle to the pair the staple was driven through the spout of one of the containers. When this was done, the spout of that container could not be opened as desired and the container lost an attractive feature.

By turning alternate ones of the containers and pairing the alternated containers back-to-back with the spouts directed outwardly, the handles can be attached to the previously stapled portions of both containers of the pair without interfering with the usefulness of the spout. This turning and pairing operation has been carried out by hand and the handle attached by stapling to the previously stapled portions of both containers of the pair.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism which, in a rapid and efiicient manner, reverses alternate containers of a procession of containers emerging from a filling machine, alines these containers in a column with the containers paired back-to-back the spouts facing outwardly, supplies and attaches a handle to the paired containers, and discharges the containers in pairs while reactivating the mechanism for a subsequent operation. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a container pairing machine for use with gable topped containers of the extensible pouring spout variety which operates rapidly and positively to turn alternate containers through 180, to position the containers in pairs back-to-back with their spouts facing outwardly and then to attach a handle to the back-to-back paired containers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the foregoing character which performs the handle pairing and attaching operations in a minimum of space, which is simple and readily controlled, and which is easy to operate and keep clean in accordance with the sanitary conditions required to be maintained in the dairy.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for discharging paired containers from the machine while maintaining the remaining oriented containers in position for receiving a handle.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of a container pairing machine illustrative of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a container of the gable topped enclosed pouring spout variety for use in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 2 but with the spout extended.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container orienting, pairing and handle attaching mechanism illustrative of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an electric control circuit employed on the machine shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a hydraulic circuit employed on the machine shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the container orienting portion of the mechanism.

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view partially in section and with a portion cut away of the container pairing and handle attaching mechanism.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view of the handle forming mechanism shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10a is an elevation view of the handle forming knife shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section view taken substantially in the plane of line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a handle of the type attached to a pair of containers by the illustrative mechanism.

FIG. 13 is an elevation view of a stapler mechanism taken substantially in the plane of line 1313 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged plan view of an escapement and pusher mechanism.

FIG. 15 is an elevation view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is an end view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 14.

While one illustrative mechanism for pairing gable topped containers and attaching a handle thereto has been shown in the drawings and will be described below in considerable detail, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, equivalents and uses falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Gable topped containers of the variety having an extensible pouring spout are shown in US. Patent 2,7 50,095, issued June 12, 1956, to C. R. Alden. While a brief description of these containers will sufiice for present purposes, reference should be made to the Alden patent for a more detailed description of the character and structure of the containers. Such containers comprise (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) a rectangular tubular body portion 50 surmounted by a gable topped closure portion 51. Forming the gable topped closure are a pair of opposed upwardly inclined roof panels 52 overlying the body 50, a pair of inwardly inclined triangular end panels 54, and inwardly folded triangular fold back panels 55 connecting the roof panels and triangular end panels 52, 54. The closure panels are surmounted by rib panels which, in the folded and closed container, define an upstanding rib 56. An extensible, sanitarily protected pouring spout 58 of pitcher-like form is incorporated into the top closure of the container and rendered accessible by partial disassembly of the central rib 56. The spout itself is formed by the triangular end panels 54 and 55 and surmounting rib panels, and is opened by gripping the fold back triangular panels 55 and pulling them outwardly to tear the rib along a perforation. At the same time, a portion of the inclined roof panels 52 is folded back along an inclined score line 59. By reason of their inherent stiffness, the panels forming the spout cause the spout to snap outwardly as the triangular panels are bent back to a position as shown in FIG. 3.

It will be seen from FIG. 2 that the gable topped closure is held together by a staple 60 extending through the central laminar rib 56. It will also be noted that this staple is ofi-set from the center of the rib so that it does not interfere with the opening of the spout. If a handle were to be attached by stapling to the spout portion of the rib, it can be easily seen that the spout could be opened only with difficulty and to do so would most likely tear the container and destroy the usefulness of the pouring spout.

The gable topped containers are filled with milk or other desired product in a machine of a known commercial type, illustrated generally at 65, and emerge from that machine as a continuous procession of filled, closed and sealed containers. As the containers emerge from the filling machine 65 they are alined with their spouts directed forwardly and with the upstanding central laminar rib 56 extending longitudinally of the direction of movement of the procession (FIG. 4). If the containers are of the type which do not include spouts, it is a simple matter to attach a handle to pairs of containers by merely stapling the handle to the central laminar rib. The mechanism hereinafter to be described for stapling a handle can, of course, be used to advantage for this purpose. However, when the containers are of the type with extensible pouring spouts, alternate ones of the containers in the procession must be rotated through 180 so that the containers are oriented back-to-back with the spouts facing outwardly before the handles are attached.

The mechanism illustrative of the present invention for orienting the containers, pairing them and attaching a handle, as shown in FIG. 4, is organized on a frame 66 which carries a continuously moving endless belt type conveyor 68 for supporting the containers and carrying them through the various handle attaching stages. The conveyor 68 is supported on the frame in the usual manner by means of an appropriate conveyor frame 69 and is driven by an electric motor 70 or, alternatively, by a power-take-ofi": from the filling machine 65. The conveyor is preferably of the type formed with a plurality of narrow plates 71 fixed to a chain 72 so that a smooth, fiat surface is provided at all times for supporting the containers. A further feature which the conveyor desirably possesses is a surface which is sufficiently smooth to allow the conveyor to move relative to the containers when the latter are stopped relative to the mechanism. The plates 71 are thus formed with a smooth surface without projections which might engage and damage a container.

The containers, as they emerge from the filling machine 65, are guided onto the conveyor by appropriate guide rails 73, 74 fixed at one end to the machine 65. These guide rails may be positioned to lead the containers out of the machine 65 at any angle and serve to position them onto the conveyor 68 in a continuous procession with the spouts directed forwardly.

In the pairing mechanism mounted on the frame 66, the containers first pass through station A (FIG. 1) where alternate containers are rotated 180 and thereby oriented for the subsequent handle attaching operation which takes place at a subsequent station B. At station B, there is provided a handle feed mechanism 77 and a stapler mechanism 78 including two stapler heads for attaching the handle to a pair of containers. When a handle has been attached, the containers proceed to a discharge station C where they encounter an ejector mechanism 79 which serves to discharge pairs of containers from the mechanism while retaining the following containers in position for receiving a handle. The operations at the various stations A, B and C are preferably carried out by means of a hydraulic system controlled by solenoids energized in an appropriate electric control circuit as will hereinafter be discussed in detail.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided, at station A, a new and improved mechanism for orienting the containers by rotating alternate ones through an angle of 180. As pointed out above, the purpose of this rotation is to enable the containers to be alined in pairs back-to-back with the spouts directed outwardly, in opposite directions from each other and directed forward and backward respectively.

As the containers, with their spouts directed forwardly, are carried by the conveyor 68 through the turning station A, alternate ones of the containers are rotated twice through angles of 90, thereby through a total of 180. This rotation is accomplished by inserting into the path of a container to be rotated, a pin which engages one leading corner portion of a container. In order to get past the pin the container rotates 90.

The portion of the mechanism making up the container turning station A, is shown in FIG. 7. At this station, containers received from the outlet of the filling machine 65 are guided by the rails 73, 74 to the first turning point where a leading corner portion of a container 50 is engaged by the first pin 76 projecting outwardly into the path of the container. This pin 76 stops the movement of the engaged corner portion of the container so that the container, being carried by the continuously moving conveyor belt 68, is forced to rotate about the pin 76 as a fulcrum. To permit this rotation the outer guide rail 74 is provided with an outwardly bent portion 78 which is sufficiently spaced from the inner guide rail 73 to receive the diagonal length of the container thus permitting the container to rotate through an angle of 90. Further movement of the conveyor 68 carries the container around the projecting pin 76 and through a necked-down portion of the guide rails defined by an inwardly projecting guide rail portion 79. This straightens or alines the container on the conveyor, but with the container spout facing off one side of the conveyor. Upon further movement of the partially rotated (90) container, it engages a second pin 80 projecting into its path and, again, the container is rotated through an angle of 90. As before, to accommodate this second rotation, the outer guide rail 74 is provided with a second outwardly bowed portion 81 spaced a sufficient distance from the inner guide rail 73 so that the container can be rotated.

In order to rotate the containers alternately so that alternate ones will pass through the mechanism without rotation, the rotating pins 76 and 80 are staggered so that when one pin projects over the conveyor for rotating a container, the other pin is retracted. This movement of the pins is accomplished by any suitable means such as, for example, by an air motor operated by compressed air under the control of suitable solenoid valves. Air motors 84, 85 are provided for the pins 76 and 80 respectively, these motors having pistons 86, 87 on the end of which are adapters 88 for securing the pins. The motors 84, 85 are mounted on a bracket 89 which is securely attached by means of arms 90 to the conveyor frame 69.

The motor cylinders 84, 85 are supplied with air pressure from a supply tank 91 (FIG. 6) by means of a conduit 92 leading from a pressure reducing fitting 93 on the supply tank to solenoid valves SV1 and SV2 respectively on the motors 84 and 85. These solenoid valves are operated to actuate the motors for projecting or retracting the pins, according to the position of the containers on the conveyor, by means of a selector switch 94 having an arm 95 spring biased to extend over the conveyor 68 in the path of the containers and between the pins 76 and 80. Each time a container strikes this arm 95, the switch 94 associated therewith is closed thereby changing the position of contacts 94a and 94b (FIG. 5) to actuate the corresponding set of solenoid valve coils SVla and SVlb or SVZa and SVZb. When either set of coils is energized, the corresponding solenoid valve is actuated to operate the motors 84 and 85 and reverse the positions of the pins 76 and 80. For example, with the pin 76 projecting over the conveyor and the pin 80 withdrawn as shown in FIG. 7, contact of arm 95 by a container which has been rotated through 90 as shown in FIG. 7, will close switch 94 and thereby close contact 94a and open contact 94b. When this occurs, pin 76 will be moved out or withdrawn from over the conveyor while pin 80 will move in and project over the conveyor as a stop for rotating the container through a further 90.

A following container, which is not to be rotated, will pass the withdrawn pin 76 and engage the switch arm 95 without being rotated. When this occurs, contact 94a will be opened and 941) will be closed thereby withdrawing pin 80 and projecting pin 76 over the conveyor. This will allow the unrotated container to pass pin 80 and continue towards the handle attaching stations with its spout directed forwardly. The next container in the procession, however, will engage pins 76 and 80 and be rotated 180. It can thus be seen that the operation will be repeated so long as containers are in the machine, with alternate ones of the containers being rotated to reverse the spouts and orient them so that containers may be paired back-to-back with the spouts facing outwardly.

Power is supplied for the switching and solenoid valve operations from an appropriate source through lines L1 and L2 (FIG. 5). So that the solenoid valves may operate at a lower voltage, a step-down transformer 96 is provided to which the solenoid valve coils and contacts are connected. In order to facilitate positive action of the contactor 94, it is connected across the full voltage lines L1 and L2. The conveyor motor 70 may be operated across the lines with suitable on-and-ofi switches being provided. It is also desirable that an on-ofi? switch 98 be provided for operating the container pairing mechanism so that if desired both pins 76 and 80 can be retracted and containers may be passed through the mechanism without being reversed and without having a handle attached thereto.

From the reversing and orienting mechanism at station A, the containers pass in a procession to the handle attaching station B, where they are paired with their spouts directed outwardly and where a handle is attached to the paired containers. To this end the containers carried on the conveyor pass between horizontal guide rails 99 and are alined beneath the handle feed mechanism 77 and stapler mechanism 78, with the upstanding central laminar rib 56 of the containers alined beneath these mechanisms so that an appropriate handle may be attached thereto.

For supplying the handles there is provided a magazine 104 containing a stack of handles 105. The bottom handle blank 105 in the stack is removed and positioned above the containers to which it is to be attached by means of a feed knife 106 (FIGS. 91l). Briefly, this knife comprises an elongated bar member having a tapered end portion 107 which is relatively thin and around which the handle can be bent (FIGS. and 10a). Intermediate its ends the knife has a handle engaging step 108 for picking up a handle blank from the magazine. When the handle is retracted, shown in phantom at 106a, the stack of handles drops slightly so that the bottom handle in the magazine 104 is engaged by the step 108. As the handle knife is moved forwardly this blank is forced out of the magazine into engagement with a pair of spaced downwardly inclined guide rails 110 which serve to bend the handle downwardly over the thin tapered end portion of the knife (FIG. 11). The lower ends of the handle portion then straddle the upstanding central rib of a container. The stack of handles, at the same time, rides up on the rear portion of the knife.

In the mechanism shown in FIG. 9, an air cylinder motor 112 is provided for operating the handle feed knife 106 which is mounted, by means of a bracket 113 on a frame 114 secured to the free end of a piston 115 of the motor 112. The frame 114 is guided on a. pair of spaced rods 116 mounted on the conveyor frame 66 by means of a suitable bridge 118. The magazine 104 is supported on the bridge 118 by means of a pair of arms 119 which also serve to support the guides 110.

The handle feed motor 112 is air operated and accordingly is connected to the air supply conduit 92 through a solenoid control valve SV3 (FIG. 6). The solenoid valve controls the actuation of the handle feed mechanism to feed a handle when solenoid valve coil SV3a is energized and to return the handle feed mechanism to pick up a handle blank when solenoid valve coil SV3 b is energized. When a handle 1115 has been fed into place over a pair of properly alined containers, in the sequence hereinafter to be described, the handle is stapled to the upstanding central laminar rib or truss of the containers by the stapler mechanism 78. The stapler applies a staple through the handle and container rib in that portion of the rib which has previously been stapled for purposes of sealing the container (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Because the containers are alined and oriented back-to-back with the spouts facing outwardly, the handle staples are attached through the portion of the rib which does not include the container spout. The containers may then later be separated along an appropriate score line 121 provided in the handle 105 and the spouts open and extended in the usual manner, as described above. It will be appreciated that any form of handle suitable for the purpose may be em ployed.

The stapling mechanism 78 (FIG. 13) includes two heads 125, one for each staple and container, and, for each stapler head 125, a clincher block 126 disposed on opposite sides of the container rib. The stapler head is driven by a suitable air motor 128 mounted on a bracket 129 supported on the bridge 118. To this end, the stapler head is connected to the piston 130 of the motor by a suitable arm 131. The stapler is of the usual construction employed in packaging machinery of this type.

Staple Wire is fed to each of the stapler heads 125 from a pair of spools supported on a bracket 136 mounted on the bridge 118. The staple wire is fed by a Wheel drive "138 actuated by a ratchet mechanism 139. The ratchet mechanism itself is operated by an air cylinder 140 connected to the ratchet by means of-a piston 141.

The stapler, requiring a larger supply of air as the operating pressure fluid, is connected directly to the reservoir 91 by means of a conduit 144 through a solenoid valve 5V4. The wire feed cylinder 140 on the other hand, is connected to the lower pressure supply conduit 92 by means of a branch pipe 145 (FIG. 6) and a solenoid valve SV5. The operation of the solenoid valves 5V4 and SV5 to control the actuation of the motors 128 and 140 respectively is controlled by the electrical circuit (FIG. 5), suitable solenoid coils SV la and SV4b, and SVSa and SVSb respectively being provided for this purpose.

From the supply reels the staple wire is fed through the ratchet feed mechanism and thence through a tube 148 into the stapler head 125. The wire projects through the head in a direction generally parallel to the container rib and is held in place by a stapler inside former 149.

When the stapler is actuated, by supplying air pressure to the motor 128, the head slides forward forcing the container rib against the clincher block and at the same time the outside former 150, being bifurcated, extends on opposite sides of the inside former 149, and bends th staple towards the container. The inside former is subsequently withdrawn and a driver (not shown) forces the formed Staple through the handle and rib against the clincher block.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the handle feeding, attaching and container pair discharge cycle is uniquely arranged for rapid and positive operation to prevent the mis-application of handles to containers and to insure that the handles are uniformily spaced on the ribs and are securely attached in their proper position. In order to aline a procession of containers, with spouts properly oriented by the reversing mechanism at station A, between the guide rails 98 and beneath the handle forming and stapling mechanisms, there is provided at the discharge end of the conveyor a stop 155 extending over the conveyor and adapted to engage a leading corner portion of a container and prevent it, and necessarily the following containers, from being carried further by the conveyor. The stop 155 is spaced along the conveyor a distance away from the stapling mechanism which is some what more than the length of a paired unit of containers. It is thus the second pair of containers in line which is positioned beneath the stapling head and handle feed mechanism for receiving a handle. The first pair of containers positioned between the stapling station E and the discharge end of the conveyor, is in the ejector or escapement station C (FIG. 1).

For moving the leading pair of united containers away from the stop 155 so that they may continue to be car ried by the conveyor, a pusher or positioner 156 is provided at the ejector station C (FIG. 14). The pusher 156 comprises a large rectangular plate having a container engaging face 158 positioned alongside of and extending parallel to the conveyor and thus to the sides of the containers 50 carried thereon. The pusher 156 is mounted for sliding movement on a bracket 159 secured to the frame 66, and to this end, is fixed to a shaft 160 slidably guided in a bearing 161 mounted onto the bracket 159. The pusher 156 is caused to move by means of an air motor 162 mounted on the bracket 159 beneath the bearing 161 (FIG. 16) and having a piston rod 164 secured at its free end to the pusher 156. In order to prevent the containers from tipping when moved trans versely of the conveyor and stop 155 by the pusher 156, the latter includes an arch 166 fixed to the pusher 156 and extending therefrom over the conveyor where it supports above the edge of the conveyor opposite the pusher, a guide rail 167. In this manner the container is supported on both faces, and thus will not tip, when engaged by the pusher.

For controlling the application of air to the pusher motor 162 there is provided an appropriate solenoid valve SV6 communicating with the reservoir 91 through a conduit 165. The solenoid valve SV6 is controlled by appropriate solenoid coils SV6a and SV6b in the electric circuit (FIG. for determining the direction of move ment of the pusher.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, correct timing of the handle attaching operation is accomplished by positioning at least three pairs of containers in successive alinernent in stations B and C. The presence of these containers is sensed by appropriate limit switches positioned along the conveyor and by a switch on the stop 155. Accordingly, the stop 155 is mounted on a gate 168 which is swingably mounted by means of a pin 169, on the pusher frame 159. On the frame 159 in back of the gate is mounted a limit switch 170 having a contact arm 171 engaged by a projecting abutment 172 on the gate. The gate itself is limited for movement by a headed stop screw 174 secured to the frame 159 and extending through an aperture 175 on the gate. As a sufficient number of containers are backed up against the stop, the continuous frictional force of the conveyor causes these containers to exert a force on the gate. This force acts against and compresses a spring 176 and thereby moves the switch arm 171 to close limit switch 170. The presence of the desired number of containers along the conveyor in position for receiving a handle is sensed by two or more limit switches 172, 173 mounted beside the conveyor (FIG. 4) and having arms extending over the conveyor into the path of the container. When these three limit switches (170, 172 and 173) are closed, that is when at least three pairs of containers (six containers) are in position, the mechanism begins its handle attaching operation for attaching a handle to the second pair of containers in the line. Thus, referring to FIG. 5, when all three pairs are alined in front of the stop 155, the gate is swung to close limit switch 170 and the handle feed solenoid coil SV3a is energized to actuate solenoid valve 8V3 to apply air to handle teed motor 112. The motor is then operated to move the rod outwardly and cause the feed arm 186 to pick up a handle from the stack and move it through the handle guide rails to beneath the stapler and over the container ribs (FIG. 11). Upon the completion of the handle feeding operation, a further limit switch 174- is closed. This limit switch 174 is mounted on the bridge 118 for engagement by the handle feed mechanism (FIG. 9) and serves to initiate the remainder of the handle stapling cycle. When limit switch 174 is closed, the pusher feed solenoid coil SV6a and the staple driver coil SV4a are energized to actuate the respective solenoids 5V6 and 8V4 to apply pressure fluid to the corresponding motors 162 and 128 respectively. Although both solenoid valves are energized at the same time, the pusher motor 162 is designed to operate somewhat faster than the stapler motor. Accordingly, the first pair of containers in the line are moved away from the stop by the action of the pusher 156 against them, and are carried away by the conveyor. This allows the next two containers in line, that is positioned directly beneath the stapler head and handle, to start to move. They move only a very short distance, however (approximately inch), before they are gripped between the stapler heads and anvils, and thereby temporarily stopped. The stapler then completes its stroke and drives a staple through the handle and upstanding container ribs. Accordingly, it is important that these containers be stopped initially slightly short of their staple receiving position so that they move into the correct position for stapling when the pusher is actuated to remove the leading pair of containers.

During the time in which the staple is to be driven into the handle and the handle attached to the two containers thereby pairing them together, this group of containers is temporarily stopped by engagement between the stapler heads and anvils and slightly short or against a lateral edge 175 of the extended pusher, depending upon the amount of movement of the pair before and after stapling.

The outward staple driving movement of the stapler actuates the handle feed and wire reel ratchet return. To this end, there is provided a switch 178 on the bracket 129 having a contact button 179 engageable by an arm 180. The arm 180 is cammed into engagement with the contact 179 by a cam wheel 181 which rides up on a cam surface 182 fixed on the stapler head 125. Upon a reversal of the switch 178 as the staple mechanism moves out to stapling position, solenoid valve coils SV4a, SV5a and SV6a are de-energized and solenoid valve coils SV3b and SVSb are energized (FIG. 5). The handle feed solenoid had previously been de-energized when the first two containers were pushed away from the stop thereby allowing switch 170 to open. The handle feed then returns to position for receiving another handle and the 9 wire reel ratchet is cocked for feeding a further portion of wire to the staplers.

As the first pair of containers which was pushed away from the stop by the pusher moves towards the discharge end of the conveyor, it engages a discharge switch 185 positioned alongside of the conveyor. Upon the closing of this switch the solenoid coils SV4b and SV6b are energized to return the pusher and the stapler to their retracted or out positions. When these elements are so returned the containers then in the mechanism are moved forward by the conveyor until the stop 155 is engaged. The leading pair of containers is attached together by a handle, being the pair just previously receiving a handle. As the stapler returns to its inactive or retracted position, the position of switch 178 is shifted and the wire feed solenoid SVSa is energized to actuate the wire feed motor 140 to feed a section of wire to the stapler heads.

When three pairs of containers are again alined in properly oriented position within the stations B and C the operation is repeated. Thus, as long as there are a sufiicient number of containers present in the mechanism, handles will be attached to pairs of containers rapidly and automatically and with a minimum of attention. In the event of a misalignment of containers, for example should one container be rotated only through 90, its rib will extend crosswise of the conveyor. In this instance, a warning switch 186 mounted above the conveyor adjacent to the handle feed mechanism, will be closed energizing a warning device 187 such as a bell, buzzer or the like (FIG.

It may be helpful at this point to give a brief rsum of the operation of the above described mechanism for orienting containers of the gable topped pouring spout variety in pairs with their spouts facing outwardly and attaching a handle to the upstanding gable top ribs of each pair. A procession of containers entering the handle attaching mechanism from a filling machine and having their spouts alined in one direction are oriented by reversing alternate containers thereby to reverse the position of their spouts 180". With the present invention this is accomplished by projecting into the path of a passing container carried on a conveyor 68 a stop rod or pin 76 which engages a leading corner portion of the container and causes the container to be turned through an angle of 90 in order to pass the pin 76. As the partially rotated container continues further on the conveyor, it contacts a switch arm 95 which closes a switch and actuates a first air motor which withdraws the pin 76 and a second air motor which inserts into the path of the container a second pin 80. Engagement by the container with the second pin 80 again turns the container through a 90 angle thereby reversing the direction of its spout. A following container will not be turned inasmuch as it will pass the withdrawn pin 76 and engage the switch arm 95 which causes the pin 80 to be withdrawn and the pin 76 to be projected into the path of a following container.

In this manner, containers can be readily and quickly oriented with oppositely directing spouts and can then be positioned in pairs back-to-back with their spouts facing outwardly for receiving a handle joining the containers of each pair. When a group of at least three pairs of containers, that is six containers, are lined up against a stop 155 projecting over the conveyor, switches 170, 172 and 173 are closed. This actuates a handle feed mechanism 77 which picks up a handle blank 105 from a magazine stack and folds it onto opposite sides of the upstanding container ribs of the second pair in line. As this is completed the leading pair of containers is ejected past the stop 155 by a pusher 156 and the second pair starts to move with the conveyor. Immediately, however, the containers are secured or paired together by a stapler 78 which attaches the handle to them. When the leading pair of containers, which has been pushed past the stop, reaches the end of the conveyor,

10 a switch is closed causing the pusher 156 and stapler 78 to be retracted thereby setting the stage for a further cycle of operations.

There has thus been described a mechanism for simply, rapidly and completely automatically pairing containers in back-to-back relation with their extensible pouring spouts facing outwardly and for attaching a handle securing these containers together without interferring with future operation of their spouts. While certain illustrative mechanisms have been employed for accomplishing the above purpose, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that equivalent structures may be employed and such equivalency will be recognized to be within the scope of the invention.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 750,013, filed July 21, 1.958, now Patent No. 2,990,934, dated July 4, 1961.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mechanism for receiving a procession of gable topped containers and attaching a handle to the up standing gable top rib of two adjacent containers for joining the same, comprising, in combination, a frame, a continuously moving conveyor mounted on said frame, a stop gate swingably mounted on said frame and extending partially over said conveyor for stopping said containers, a magazine containing handle blanks mounted on said frame above said conveyor, a handle feed mechanism mounted on said frame and spaced from said stop a distance equal to at least one pair of containers for feeding a handle from said magazine and for positioning the handle above the ribs of a succeeding pair of containers, a stapler mechanism mounted on said frame in a position above said handle feed mechanism for stapling said handle to the container ribs, a wire feed mechanism for supplying staple wire to said stapler, a pusher for engaging said first pair of containers adjacent said stop gate and moving the same laterally of the conveyor and stop gate to discharge the same, means operative when at least two pairs of containers are alined against the first stop for operating said handle feed to position a handle above the second pair of containers, and means operative in response to the positioning of the handle for actuating said pusher to move the first pair of containers past the stop whereupon the second pair of containers starts to move with the conveyor toward the stop and for immediately thereafter stapling the handle to the ribs of the second pair of containers.

2. A mechanism for receiving a procession of gable topped containers and attaching a handle to the upstanding gable top rib of two adjacent containers for joining the same, comprising, in combination, a frame, a continuously moving conveyor mounted on said frame, a stop gate swingably mounted on said frame and extending partially over said conveyor for stopping said containers, a magazine containing handle blanks mounted on said frame above said conveyor, a handle feed mechanism mounted on said frame and spaced from said stop a distance equal to at least one pair of containers for feeding a handle from said magazine and for positioning the handle above the ribs of a succeeding pair of containers, a stapler mechanism mounted on said frame in position above said handle feed mechanism for stapling said handle to the container ribs, a wire feed mechanism for supplying staple wire to said stapler, a pusher for engaging said first pair of containers adjacent said stop gate and moving the same laterally of the conveyor and stop gate to discharge the same, means operative when at least two pairs of containers are alined against the first stop for operating said handle feed to position a handle above the second pair of containers, and means operative in response to the positioning of the handle for actuating said pusher to move the first pair of containers past the stop whereupon the second pair of containers starts to move with the conveyor toward the stop and for immediately thereafter stapling the handle to the ribs of the second pair of containers, means operative when said stapler is actuated for returning the handle feed and staple wire feed mechanisms, and means operative in response to the discharge of the first pair of containers to return the stapler and retract the pusher so that the second pair of containers is moved by the conveyor into abutment with said stop While still another pair of containers is moved by the conveyor into position beneath the handle feed and stapler mechanism.

3. A mechanism for receiving a procession of gable topped containers and attaching a handle to the upstanding gable top ribs of two adjacent containers, as defined in claim 1, wherein the handle feed mechanism includes a knife for feeding a handle from the magazine to a position for attaching to the containers, said knife comprising an elongated bar having a thin tapered portion extending from one end thereof about which a handle can be formed, and a handle engaging step intermediate the ends of said bar for removing a handle from the magazine and positioning said handle over said tapered portion whereby said handle is positioned for engagement by the stapler mechanism.

4. A mechanism for receiving a procession of gable topped containers and attaching a handle to the upstanding gable top ribs thereof, said mechanism including a knife for feeding a handle from a magazine to a position for attaching to the containers, said knife comprising an elongated bar having a thin tapered portion extending from one end thereof about which a handle can be formed, and a handle engaging step intermediate the ends of said bar for removing a handle from the magazine and positioning the same over said tapered portion whereby said handle is positioned for attachment to said container.

No references cited. 

